Cohocton Wind Watch is a community citizen organization dedicated to preserve the public safety, property values, economic viability, environmental integrity and quality of life in Cohocton, NY and in surrounding townships. Neighbors committed to public service in order to achieve a reasonable vision for a Finger Lakes region worthy of future generations.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Clipper Windpower in Cedar Rapids confirmed today that layoffs within wind blade company's operations will reduce its workforce by 174 positions, KCRG television reported this afternoon.

The television station reported that employees at the eastern Iowa plant began calling the television station this morning reporting that layoffs were in progress.

A human resources for the company, which was recently sold by United Technologies to Platinum Equity in California, said no physical plants would be closed, including its wind blade production and assembly facility in Newton, though "challenges facing our industry and company" require the company to work on "developing a sustainable business model."

Earlier this year, Steve Lockard, the chief executive officer of TPI Composites, which operates a wind blade manufacturing operation in Newton, said that while the Arizona-based company has created more than 700 new jobs in the community since the closure of Maytag five years ago, some of those jobs could be in jeopardy should the production tax credits for wind power not be extended before they expire at the end of the year.

"Our company has created more than 700 new jobs in Newton, and a second wind energy company there now employs over 100," Lockard said. "Our industry can do the same in hard-hit towns all across the U.S., if Congress will let us and doesn't increase taxes on wind power next year."

Officials with the American Wind Energy Association estimate that as many as half of the 75,000 jobs nationwide in the wind energy industry could be lost if the tax credit is not extended.

Risks of Industrial Wind Turbines is a group of citizens and organizations dedicated to preserve the public safety, property values, economic viability, environmental integrity and quality of life of residents and future generations.